“We're in the beginnings of a total revolution, and I'm excited about it.” This week’s guest is reflecting on the transformation occurring across the food and agriculture industries. Not since the Green Revolution has the industry seen such change.
It hasn’t happened overnight. Over the past decade, entrepreneurs, corporates, activists, investors, and policy makers have been working to transform our food system. But what will it take to actually transform the system to make it way better for all people and our planet? What are the key levers for total transformation?
Louisa and Danielle speak about the food revolution that’s underway with Sam Kass, former Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition in the Obama administration, Executive Director of Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Campaign and the Obama family chef. Today, Sam is a partner at Acre Venture Partners, a venture capital fund investing in the future of food with a mission to improve human and environmental health in the food system.
In this lively and extensive conversation, we cover:
- Sam’s personal journey from chef, to nutrition policy advisor for the Obamas, to Venture Capitalist
- Carbon markets
- The importance of mindset and cultural shift in agriculture
- The Inflation Reduction Act
Nothing in this material is (or should be considered to be financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by the guest or hosts that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Their trading strategies do not guarantee any return and New Food Order shall not be held responsible for any loss that you may incur, either directly or indirectly, arising from any investment based on any information contained herein, or any loss that you may incur, either directly or indirectly, arising from any investment based on any information contained herein. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
Links & Resources:
Carbon resources
https://medium.com/@pledge_app/a-beginners-guide-to-navigating-carbon-markets-ec290a6d1bdf
https://carboncredits.com/what-are-carbon-credits-in-agriculture/
https://www.ctvc.co/giving-carbon-credit-where-its-due/
https://www.ctvc.co/the-dirt-on-soil-carbon-sequestration/
https://agfundernews.com/carbon-is-not-a-dirty-word-the-case-for-recarbonizing-our-soils
https://agfundernews.com/the-carbon-question-making-global-carbon-markets-work-for-farmers
https://agfundernews.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-government-involvement-in-carbon-credit-markets
https://agfundernews.com/agri-carbon-market-map-companies-helping-harness-benefits-regen-ag
https://agfundernews.com/carbon-credits-in-ag-dishing-the-dirt
Sam’s firm: https://acre.vc/
Startups
Inflation Reduction Act: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-and-social-sector/our-insights/the-inflation-reduction-act-heres-whats-in-it (edited)
Subscribe to our newsletters that track all of the business, tech, and investment trends in food: https://tinyurl.com/nfonewsletters
Follow us on Instagram: @newfoodorderpod
Follow us on Linkedin: AgFunder & Food+ Tech Connect
Thank you to our partners New Hope Network & FoodShot Global
New Hope Network
New Hope Network is a media, events and business intelligence company, covering natural products trends, industry insights and marketplace data that educate the industry about key issues, like regenerative agriculture, sustainability, responsible sourcing and more. Visit newhope.com.
FoodShot Global
FoodShot leverages resources from investors around the world to provide non-dilutive, equity, and post-investment capacities to innovators. Find out more at foodshot.org.
New Food Order is brought to you by AgFunder and Food+Tech Connect. Visit agfunder.com and foodtechconnect.com to find out more.
New Food Order
New Food Order is a podcast exploring the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture from AgFunder and Food+Tech Connect.
Through nuanced conversation and debate, its hosts Danielle Gould and Louisa Burwood-Taylor are embarking on a learning and unlearning journey to unearth how we might design business and finance to have maximum positive impact for people and our planet.
Join us as we speak with leading farmers, entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and other stewards on key topics like:
- Will plant-based, lab-grown meat, and regenerative agriculture save the world?
- Is carbon neutral enough?
- What are the most people and planet friendly business and finance models?
- How might we best honor and learn from indigenous communities?
- What are the unintended consequences of new innovation, and how might we avoid them?
Danielle Gould is an entrepreneur and activist. She is the Founder and CEO of Food Tech Connect, the first community for food innovation as well as the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Alpha Food Labs, a consultancy where she works with some of the world’s largest companies to create products and innovation strategies that are better for people and our planet. She hopes that ultimately, her work helps unite and catalyze a movement of earth guardians.
A journalist and editor, Louisa is the head of media & research for AgFunder and chief editor of its news site AFN, focused on the foodtech and agtech industry. With 10 years of agriculture reporting behind her, Louisa started her career in other financial markets working for publications like the Financial Times, Euromoney and Private Equity International, where she launched the first-ever publication dedicated to agriculture investment.